From Regional Star to UFC Phenom
Topuria launched his pro career in Spain's regional circuits, securing four straight submission wins and a Mix Fight Events belt. He went 8-0 across promotions like Cage Warriors and Brave CF, earning his UFC contract in 2020 with knockouts and subs that caught scouts' eyes.
His UFC debut came against Ryan Hall at UFC 264 in 2021, ending in a first-round knockout. Wins over Jai Herbert and Josh Emmett built momentum, earning Performance and Fight of the Night bonuses. By 2023, he was primed for title contention.
Topuria's early success stemmed from his grappling roots, becoming Georgia's first BJJ black belt with brother Alex, before honing striking under top coaches.
Conquering Featherweight Glory
At UFC 298 in February 2024, Topuria dethroned Alexander Volkanovski via second-round knockout, ending a four-year reign and claiming the Featherweight strap. This historic win made him the first from his nations to hold UFC gold, earning Performance of the Night.
He defended against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October 2024, delivering the Hawaiian's first career knockout loss in round three. Another bonus followed, cementing Topuria's supremacy at 145 pounds.
His boxing-heavy style shone: fluid combos and power overwhelmed elite opponents, blending stand-up evolution with ground threats.
2025 Lightweight Domination
Vacating Featherweight in early 2025 to chase Lightweight gold, Topuria targeted Islam Makhachev, but Makhachev moved to Welterweight. At UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, he faced vacant-title holder Charles Oliveira and knocked him out at 2:27 of round one.
This made Topuria the tenth multi-division UFC champ, skyrocketing him to #1 pound-for-pound—briefly—before Makhachev reclaimed it in November 2025 after welterweight success. The win earned yet another Performance bonus.
As of December 2025, at #2 P4P, Topuria's 17-0 run and cross-division feats position him for superfights, impacting UFC's landscape profoundly.